In all the furore that has surrounded the defections of top political officials from APC to PDP, many have ignored the inactivity from Yakubu Dogara
As at two weeks ago, it was thought that the speaker of the House of Representatives was a sure-fire candidate for defection to the PDP, yet he remains a member of the APC.
According to a report by the Punch, this is a calculated move on Dogara’s part as he Speaker analyses the numerical strength that the ruling party has over PDP in the house at the moment.
The report in the Punch revealed that the Speaker is worried that his goals will not be achieved with a party with a minority number hence his hesitation to jump ship.
According to the Punch, a source who is a confidant to the speaker said: “In 2019, no one is sure how things will pan out. Dogara has less problems to contend with as a speaker today because he is still with the APC.
“No one is seriously demanding his resignation, neither is he facing any impeachment threat like the Senate President.
“The fear now is that if he hurriedly defects to the PDP to contest the election, his chances of returning as a speaker if the APC retains the majority become a tough call.
“On the other hand, if he remains in the APC to contest the election and the PDP captures the majority, it will be another problem for Dogara because the PDP, now hungry for power, will pick one of their own.
“A third option, which appears more appealing, is for him to stick with the APC, hoping it will retain the majority. He can then work across parties to get enough votes to remain the speaker.”
The report also indicated that there are other problems for Dogara even if he were to remain in the APC as Bauchi State Governor, Mohammed Abubakar, has allotted the Speaker of the House of Reps ticket to his own candidate.
There is said to be a rift between the two after Dogara seemed to abandon his Tafawa-Balewa/Dass/Bogoro Federal Constituency, but one of Chairman Adams Oshiomhole’s first jobs was to reconcile Dogara and Abubakar.
The Speaker remains a member of the APC, but it remains to be seen for how long this remains so.